Trends in Hearing Loss Among Older Adults and Caregivers in the U.S.
Author Information
Author(s): Zhang Wuyang, Powell Danielle, Reed Nicholas
Primary Institution: Johns Hopkins University
Hypothesis
What are the trends in the prevalence of hearing loss among older adults receiving unpaid family care and their caregivers from 2011 to 2022?
Conclusion
Hearing loss is highly prevalent among both older care recipients and their caregivers, indicating a need for further investigation into its impact on caregiving.
Supporting Evidence
- In 2011, 31.7% of care recipients reported hearing loss, which increased to 34.9% by 2022.
- The prevalence of objective hearing loss among care recipients was 73.5%, more than double the subjective reports.
- 3.6% of caregiving dyads had both parties reporting subjective hearing loss.
Takeaway
As people get older, more of them have trouble hearing, which can make it hard for them to communicate with their family caregivers.
Methodology
The study used data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study and the National Study of Caregiving to measure hearing loss through self-reported and objective measures.
Participant Demographics
The study included older adults and their family caregivers, with higher prevalence of hearing loss noted among male, non-Hispanic White, or Hispanic care recipients and spousal caregivers.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 28.3%-35.4% for care recipients in 2011; 95% CI: 31.5%-38.4% for care recipients in 2022.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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